Winding key



Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDING KEY ware Application December 9, 1932, Serial No. 646,414

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved disengaging winding key of the type used in winding spring motors such as are used on phonographs, cameras, and the like.

In some types of such spring motors the winding shaft is rotated in one direction to wind the motor, and during the unwinding thereof the shaft rotates in the opposite direction. If the winding key is left in engagement with the shaft during unwinding, it, of course, rotates therewith, with attendant danger of its striking some object which will interfere with the proper operation of the motor. It is undesirable toremove the key from the shaft, as it would be less readily accessible for prompt use and might even be mislaid.

I have therefore provided a winding key which remains at all times attached to the apparatus and is ready for instant use, but which is readily engageable in, or disengageable from, operative relation to the mechanism.

One object of the invention is to provide such a winding key which is readily engageable with or disengageable from the winding shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a winding key which is permanently attached to the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a winding key which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a winding key, the operation of which is not materially affected by wear.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front View of the winding key as applied to the casing of a spring motor.

Figure 2 is a view partly in section taken vertically along the middle of Fig. 1.

The spring motor, or device containing it, is provided with the usual casing, a portion of which is indicated at 1. Passing through the wall of this casing is a member 2 having the winding gear 3 integral therewith at one end, and having at the other end a cup-shaped portion cut out to form the projecting prongs 4.

A short shaft 5 passes through the member 2 and. is freely rotatable therein but is secured against longitudinal movement by the enlarged portions at the ends thereof.

The enlarged portion 6 at the outer end of the shaft 5 has a flat inner face which fits against the outer face of the member 2, and is provided at its sides with the flat faces 1 through which the pivot pin 8 passes.

Pivoted upon the pin 8 is the crank handle 9. It will be noted that the handle 9 is pivoted below the center of the pin 8, so that when it is in the operative position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, it is in alignment with the bottom of the pin, but when it is in the inoperative position, indicated at 9 in Fig. 2, it is in alignment with the top of the pin.

The handle 9 is provided with an aperture III which is adapted to fit over any of the prongs 4, and it will be apparent that in the position 9, Fig. 2, it can engage whichever of said prongs is most convenient, while in the position 9' it will be maintained clear of the prongs, which can then rotate freely beneath the handle.

Any appropriate variety of knob, such as indicated at H, is provided at the outer end of the handle 9.

Having thus described my invention;

I claim:

1. A winding key comprising a shaft, a driven member surrounding said shaft and having prongs circumferentially thereof and extending in parallelism with said shaft beyond the face of said member, and a crank member eccentrically pivoted transversely of said shaft and having an aperture therethrough adapted to selectively cooperate with one or another of said prongs.

2. A device of the type described comprising a rotatable driving member having a plurality of circumferential prongs extending above the face thereof and in parallelism with the axis of rotation, a freely rotatable member co-axial therewith, and actuating means pivoted upon said freely rotatable member and having an aperture for engaging said prongs selectively,

J OHN' J. HOEHN. 

